3. Announcement of prohibition of sound producing devices during the meeting.

Chairman Vaughns announced that the ringing of and use of cell phones, pagers and similar sound-producing electronic devices are prohibited at the meeting. She advised that any person responsible for the ringing or use of a cell phone, pager, or other similar sound-producing electronic devices might be removed from the meeting. She also advised that cell phones that are set on “vibrate” cause microphone interference and requested that they be placed in the “off” position.

4. Approval of Minutes

Director Kasolas requested that the minutes from the February 7, 2006 meeting include his recommendation that staff move ahead with a 5% budget cut and report back to the Board.

On motion to approve the minutes as amended of the February 7, 2006 Regular Meeting: unanimously approved (McCray-absent).

Exec. Director Ford announced that Carter Rohan will join the MTA as the new Deputy General Manager of Construction.

E.D. Ford announced that he has assigned responsibility for Safety, Training and Security to the Office of the Deputy Executive Director. Stuart Sunshine will be responsible for the APTA Safety Peer Review.

PUBLIC COMMENT:

David Pilpel expressed concern that the TEP policy groups had discussed eliminating the on-time performance standards rather than discuss how to meet them. He stated that he was impressed that the quarterly service standards report would include an explanation of the data. He stated that the northwest and northeast corners near the West Portal station need repaving. He noted that the “Half Grand Union” area is controlled by the signal system but that the crossover was not.

Dave Snyder stated that the TEP project is important to the future of public transportation. He stated that a strategic recommendation should be to set an ambitious goal for transit efficiency. One of SPUR’s recommendations for such a goal is to move 25% faster on lines that carry 80% of the people. He stated that it is important that the “Transit Preferential Streets” project is included in the scope of work for the audit.

John Hirten stated that he fully supports the TEP recommendations. Muni has lacked a comprehensive planning process. He stated that he sees a tremendous misuse of funds on cable cars.

Chairman Vaughns thanked Mr. Murphy and expressed appreciation for the CAC’s recommendations. Chairman Vaughns requested that the recommendations be provided to the appropriate divisions through the Executive Director.

9. Public Comment

Dee Ann Hendrix, Secretary, Paratransit Coordinating Council, stated the paratransit contract process was fair. MV didn’t win. MV receives 98% of all complaints while Transmetro had 3% and Medsam had none. Ms. Hendrix questioned why the MTA would give a special contract to a bad service provider who has 98% of the complaints.

Jewel McGinnis stated that she is perplexed as to why MV is protesting the loss of their contract. The process was fair and it’s not the first contract that MV has lost, nor will it be the last. The new providers will do a lot better job.

David Pilpel stated that the Rodriguez/Funes settlement agreement wasn’t properly noticed and requested that the Board look into it. He stated that there was a major ATCS failure recently which was a hassle. Muni needs to have back up systems in place. He added that he doesn’t understand how there could be instances of motor coaches running out of fuel in the field. He expressed hope that the Board will receive recommendations on changes to service standards before the Board adopts next year’s service standards.

Irwin Lum stated that 250A has worked out an agreement regarding the Cable Car fare collection system.

Pat Lovelock stated that the situation with MV has become politicized and PCC members are concerned about backroom politics. There have been endless problems with MV over the years. The process was fair.

THE FOLLOWING MATTERS BEFORE THE MUNICIPAL TRANSPORTATION AGENCY BOARD ARE RECOMMENDED FOR ACTION AS STATED BY THE DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION, AND CITY ATTORNEY WHERE APPLICABLE. EXPLANATORY DOCUMENTS FOR ALL CONSENT AND REGULAR CALENDAR ITEMS ARE AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW AT 1 SOUTH VAN NESS AVE. 7th FLOOR.

CONSENT CALENDAR

10. All matters listed hereunder constitute a Consent Calendar, are considered to be routine by the Municipal Transportation Agency Board, and will be acted upon by a single vote of the Board. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a member of the Board or the public so requests, in which event the matter shall be removed from the Consent Calendar and considered as a separate item.

(10.1) Requesting the Controller to allot funds and to draw warrants against such funds available or will be available in payment of the following claims against the MTA:

Items 10.2 A and B were severed at the request of Vice Chairman Kasolas.

Vice Chairman Kasolas stated that it was his understanding that a consultant was looking at other traffic modifications in the area and that it was premature to make these changes. He requested that the items be removed and reconsidered at a future meeting.

Bond Yee, Deputy Director, DPT, stated that the changes should be incorporated into the larger study. The items should be tabled until the process is complete.

Items 10.2 A and B were removed from the agenda for reconsideration at a future meeting.

This item was removed from the Consent Calendar at the request of a member of the public.

PUBLIC COMMENT:

David Pilpel stated that he was not clear about why the particular classifications at DPT were service-critical and how they related to transit delivery service.

Diana Buchbinder, Deputy General Manager, Human Resources, stated that the classifications meet the test under Prop E. The classes work on track signals which allows for the movement of traffic and transit vehicles.

RESOLUTION 06-017

On motion to adopt Item 10.3:

ADOPTED: AYES – Black, Kasolas, Mezey and Vaughns

NAYES – Din

ABSENT – McCray

(10.4) Designating the Director of Transportation with the working title of “Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer" of the Municipal Transportation Agency. (Explanatory documents include a staff report and resolution.)

This item was removed from the Consent Calendar at the request of a member of the public.

PUBLIC COMMENT:

David Pilpel stated that the action is unnecessary and if there is a desire to change the title, it is up to the voters.

RESOLUTION 06-018

On motion to approve:

ADOPTED: AYES – Black, Din, Kasolas, Mezey and Vaughns

ABSENT – McCray

(10.5) Authorizing the Dept. of Public Works to reject all bids received for DPW Contract No. 0944J: Mission Street (14th Street to 26th Street) Traffic Signal Upgrade, and issue a new bid call.

(Explanatory documents include a staff report and resolution.)

RESOLUTION 06-019

On motion to approve the Consent Calendar Item (10.2 A & B, 10.3 and 10.4 severed):

ADOPTED: AYES – Black, Din, Kasolas, Mezey and Vaughns

ABSENT – McCray

REGULAR CALENDAR

11. Public hearing on possible changes to parking rates in Parking Authority and City-owned garages and lots. (Explanatory documents include a staff report.)

Chairman Vaughns requested additional information including the number of vehicles at each garage, the number of transient parkers, proposed revenue, % retained, parking tax, total additional income, and the corporation’s capital accounting if applicable.

Director Din requested information on garage performance for 2005 and 2006 and for the rationale for holding downtown rates the same when neighborhood garages were being asked to absorb more.

PUBLIC COMMENT:

David Pilpel stated that he supports the direction that staff is going and that options 2 or 3 are warranted. The Transit-First policy encourages revenue generation for Muni, plus it discourages cars. He stated he recommended either option two or three or a hybrid of the two.

12. Discussion of various proposals for the FY07 MTA Budget and possible action to direct staff to include certain proposals in the FY07 MTA budget. (Explanatory documents include a staff report.)

Director Kasolas requested that staff include the percent of the total budget that each item represented.

David Pilpel stated that there is need for additional supervision in the maintenance units. He is not convinced that the proposed new initiatives are needed right now. He stated that he continues to support a reserve fund. Mr. Pilpel asked if payback of the previous Breda lease/leaseback loan was being deffered and suggested a lower trigger than 5% for bringing the budget back to the Board.

13. Authorizing the Director to execute a contract for Workers’ Compensation Bill Review Services and Medical Treatment Utilization Review Services with Fair Isaac Company for five years, plus two one-year extensions, for an amount not to exceed $675,000 per year. (Explanatory documents include a staff report, resolution and contract.)

No public comment.

RESOLUTION 06-020

On motion to approve:

ADOPTED: AYES – Black, Din, Kasolas, Mezey and Vaughns

ABSENT – McCray

14. Authorizing the Director to execute the Second Amendment to the Consulting Agreement and a separate License Agreement for the use of a proprietary business model for workers’ compensation bill review with David Donn Consulting with license and consulting fees based on a percentage of the workers compensation medical costs savings to the MTA, fees not to exceed $95,000 per year. (Explanatory documents include a staff report, resolution, amendment and agreement.)

No public comment.

RESOLUTION 06-021

On motion to approve:

ADOPTED: AYES – Black, Din, Kasolas, Mezey and Vaughns

ABSENT – McCray

ADJOURN - The meeting was adjourned at 5:12 p.m.

A tape of the meeting is on file in the office of the Secretary to the Municipal Transportation Agency Board of Directors.

Roberta Boomer
Board Secretary

The Ethics Commission of the City and County of San Francisco has asked us to remind individuals and entities that influence or attempt to influence local legislative or administrative action may be required by the San Francisco Lobbyist Ordinance [S.F. Campaign and Governmental Conduct Code section 2.100 et seq.] to register and report lobbying activity. For more information about the Lobbyist Ordinance, please contact the Ethics Commission at 415-581-2300; fax: 415-581-2317; 30 Van Ness Ave., Suite 3900, SF, CA 94102-6027 or the web site: sfgov.org/ethics.